Lift apparatus

ABSTRACT

A lift apparatus for use in varying the height of a boat gunwale. In one non-limiting embodiment, the lift apparatus comprises an elongated sleeve, an extension rod, a toggle switch, at least one extension rod securement member, and an over-extension preventer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to aquatic transports. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a lift apparatus for varying the height of a gunwale.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current aquatic technologies include a variety of human transports, including bay boats and offshore boats. Bay boats are often preferred for calmer, shallower waters, whereas offshore boats are often preferred for deeper, rougher waters. Such preferences are due, at least in part, to the lower gunwale heights of bay boats and higher gunwale heights of offshore boats.

Gunwale height can not only affect a boat's performance, but also can affect passenger safety as well under certain conditions. For instance, the relatively low gunwale height of a bay boat can make for a light vessel that performs well in shallower waters; however, the relatively low gunwale height can also make the bay boat unfit for deeper, rougher waters because of passenger safety issues. Conversely, while the relatively high gunwale height of the offshore boat can make it more appropriate for rougher, deeper waters, it can also make for a heavier vessel that does not perform as well in shallower waters.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,379, issued Mar. 19, 2002 to Murphy, Jr. describes a retractable/deployable enclosure assembly for an open stern of a watercraft vehicle comprising a plurality of foldable sidewalls and a foldable or retractable roof which are adapted to be stowed within recesses of the pre-existing hull. The sidewalls may be stored in storage berths located under either the gunnel cap or the deck of the watercraft vehicle. The sidewalls are lifted from their respective storage berths by telescoping hydraulic lifting assemblies located in the berths wherein, as the sidewalls are lifted, sidewall sections of the sidewall are unfolded. The roof is pulled from a storage berth located under a flybridge deck into a fully horizontally erect extension of the flybridge once the sidewalls are fully deployed. The roof is adapted with a locking mechanism to prevent over-deployment once the end of the sidewall is reached. Lastly, seals may be used and are manually inserted over any remaining openings. U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,379 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,019, issued Aug. 23, 2005 to Tennant describes an apparatus of mounting items to a gunwale of a boat. The apparatus includes a clamp comprised of at least two clamp parts. Each clamp part includes a nose part and a shoulder portion. A fastener may extend through each nose part. The nose part of a first one of the clamp parts extends into abutting contact with the shoulder portion of a second one of the clamp parts. The nose part of the second one of the clamp parts extends in abutting contact with the shoulder portion of the first one of the clamp parts. The clamp further includes an aperture bounded by the clamp parts. The aperture includes an opening portion that is operative to extend around the gunwale of a boat. The aperture further includes a stem portion that is operative to extend adjacent each side of a portion of a hull of the boat. U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,019 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 20120048173, published Mar. 1, 2012 to Joe Todd describes an adjustable gunnel pad may include a top portion comprising a top surface of a boat gunnel, a first leg portion comprising a first extension/retraction portion, and second leg portion comprising a second extension/retraction portion. The first leg portion and the second leg portion are connected via the top portion. In certain embodiments, the first and second extension/retraction portions may each comprise a motor, a tiered portion, and/or a pin-based portion. U.S. Patent Publication No. 20120048173 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A lift apparatus for use in varying the height of a boat gunwale. In one non-limiting embodiment, the lift apparatus comprises an elongated sleeve, an extension rod, a toggle switch, at least one extension rod securement member, and an over-extension preventer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective, partially cut-away view of a lift apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective, partially cut-away view of a lift apparatus, according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective, partially cut-away view of a lift apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 a shows a partially cut-away side view of a lift apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 b shows a partially cut-away side view of a lift apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a lift apparatus, according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a lift apparatus, according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an extension rod securement member, according to the present invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a lift apparatus with an extension rod in extended and non-extended configuration, respectively.

FIG. 10 is a Table showing part numbers and associated meanings.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

The patent application herein includes FIGS. 1 through 6. Included in the drawings is an exploded view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention relates generally to aquatic transports. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a lift apparatus 100 for varying the height of a boat gunwale 120. It should be understood that the terms “gunwale” and “gunnel” are regarded as equivalent interchangeable words. Table 1 lists part numbers and their meanings.

The description and Figures presented herein demonstrate that the present invention may be practiced or implemented in a variety of embodiments. The discussion of these embodiments amounts to a complete written description that enables those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. While several embodiments are expressly disclosed herein, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments. Indeed, the structures, features, operations or functions of the described may be reorganized or reconfigured to create one or more structural or functional equivalent embodiments of the invention that are not specifically discussed herein, but nevertheless fall within the scope of the present invention.

Further, for purposes of description herein, while the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives are used herein to assist the reader, it should be understood that the invention may assume various orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary.”U.S. Patent Numbers mentioned in this disclosure together with U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,010 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Referring to the Figures in general, the apparatus of the invention is a lift apparatus 100 for varying the height of a boat gunwale 120. The apparatus 100 comprises an elongated sleeve 140. The elongated sleeve 140 further comprises a top end 160, a bottom end 180, and a sleeve interior 200. The top end 160 of sleeve 140 includes a through aperture 220.

The lift apparatus 100 is further made up of an extension rod 240 located in the elongated sleeve 140, the extension rod 240 is tubular in construction with an exterior surface 260, and the extension rod 240 defines an opening 280 in its exterior surface 260. The extension rod 240 is extendable out of and conversely retractable into the sleeve interior 200 via the aperture 220 in the top end 160 of sleeve 140.

The lift apparatus 100 is further made up a toggle switch 300, the toggle switch 300 defines opposite top 320 and bottom 340 ends thereof, top end 320 of the toggle switch 300 faces towards the top end 160 of the elongated sleeve 140, the top end 320 of the toggle switch 300 is angled inwards towards the exterior surface 260 of the extension rod 240, the bottom end 340 includes a flat surface 360 angled to prevent movement of the extension rod back through the top end 160 of the elongated sleeve 140, the toggle switch 300 is moveable between a default position that protrudes through the opening 380 in the exterior surface 260 of the extension rod 240 and a forced compressed position wherein the flat surface 360 of the bottom end 340 of the toggle switch 300 is resiliently retracted inside the extension rod 240 via opening 280 in exterior surface 260 of extension rod 240.

The lift apparatus 100 further comprises at least one extension rod securement member 380 for reducing lateral movement of the extension rod 240 inside sleeve 140, the at least one extension rod securement member 380 being located inside the sleeve interior 200 of sleeve 140, wherein the extension rod 240 is in slidable engagement with the at least one extension rod securement member 380, the at least one extension rod securement member has an inner diameter 460, the inner diameter 460 is interrupted by a through-notch 500 slidably accommodate the toggle switch 300 in its default position when the extension rod 140 is retracted into sleeve 140. A rod over-extender preventer 540 prevents over extension of extension rod 240 out of sleeve 140. The inventive device 100 may include optional gunwale support member 560.

The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same may be varies in many ways by a routineer in the applicable arts. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed:
 1. A lift apparatus for use in varying the height of a boat gunwale, comprising: an elongated sleeve, said sleeve defines a top end, a bottom end, and a sleeve interior, said top end of said sleeve includes an aperture; an extension rod located in said elongated sleeve, said extension rod is tubular in construction with an exterior surface, said extension rod defines an opening in its exterior surface and said extension rod is extendable out of and conversely retractable into said sleeve interior via said aperture in said top end of said sleeve; a toggle switch, said toggle switch defines opposite top and bottom ends thereof, top end of said toggle switch faces towards said top end of said elongated sleeve, said top end of said toggle switch is angled inwards towards the exterior surface of said extension rod, said bottom end includes a flat surface angled to prevent movement of said extension rod back inside said top end of said elongated sleeve, said toggle switch is moveable between a default position that protrudes through said opening in the exterior surface of said extension rod and a forced compressed position wherein said flat surface of said bottom end of said toggle switch is resiliently retracted inside said extension rod; at least one extension rod securement member for reducing lateral movement of said extension rod inside said sleeve, said at least one extension rod securement member being located inside said sleeve, wherein said extension rod is in slidable engagement with said at least one extension rod securement member, said at least one extension rod securement member has an inner diameter, said inner diameter is interrupted by a through-notch to slidably accommodate said toggle switch in its default position when said extension rod is retracted into said elongated sleeve; and a rod over-extension preventer.
 2. A lift apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a gunwale support member. 